from you and him. I cannot defer writing till afternoon, nor enlarge more now.

I am, Sir, yours as formerly,

T. S.

The King will be entertained to-morrow by the University in the Public Library, and then, if at all, there will be a convocation.

LETTER XVII.

From the same to the same.

Sept. 7, [16]87.

KIND SIR,

My last told you that the King sent away the Magdalen College Fellows, commanding them to go and immediately chuse the Bishop of Oxford for their President, else they should feel the weight of his displeasure; but now

it

goes currently that he said they should feel the heavy hand of a king, and last of all, upon his recalling them, that if they did not obey, they should feel the vengeance of an angry prince. He refused to hear them speak, or to receive any petitions from them, telling them that he had known them to be a turbulent and factious society for this twenty years and above. The same night (that is, Sunday night) they gave in all their answers severally in writing. There were twenty upon the place, and nineteen of them all to the

same purpose, that they could not în conscience comply in this case. Only one gave a dubious answer, which was either Mr. Thompson, or he that publicly made mention of the undoubted President of Magdalen College. On Monday morning Mr. Penn rode down to Magdalen College, just before he left this place, and after somé discourse with some of the Fellows, wrote a short letter, directed To the King. In it, in short, he wrote to this purpose that their case was hard, and that in their circumstances they could not yield obedience without breach of their oaths; which letter was delivered to the King. I cannot learn whether he did this upon his own free motion, or by command, or intercession of any other. The King was entertained at a banquet, between ten and eleven, in the Public Library, after which he took occasion, as he was going out, to speak a considerable time to the Vice Chancellor and the rest who were nigh him. The substance of what he said was in commendation of love, charity, humility, &c. and amongst other things said, it had been taken notice that some of us had been something proud. He also recommended preaching without book, and several other things much to the same purpose to what was delivered the day before in Canterbury Hall by Father Hall, and held forth by Mr. Penn at Silas Norton's, as was said by some who had been their auditors. On Sunday night he

discoursed with the Vice Chancellor about printing, and the books which came forth here, complaining of some things written in books of controversy; to which the Vice Chancellor replied. that there was a press here that printed unlicensed books, and upon demand whose it was, he answered Mr. Walker's, and he hoped that if he had the liberty to print books without licence, we might have the liberty to answer them, and that it could not be expected but that it would be so. To which the King said, that this was but reasonable; but asked how the mischief that might follow from hence might be prevented; to which it was answered by the Vice Chancellor, that the best way he thought was, to suppress Mr. Walker's press, for the University did not begin, and would be quiet if it was not provoked. Upon this the King said, he thought it was a good expedient. But notwithstanding this, I hear that Mr. Walker hath finished another book, and that it was presented to the King after Vespers at University College one Sunday; but it is not yet published, and I cannot learn the title of it. We had no conyocation on Monday, neither are any degrees yet granted; but there was a paper on Monday morning delivered into the Vice Chancellor's hands, but not signed by the King or any other, wherein Mr. Collins and Mr. Wicking were named to be Doctors of Divinity, and Mr. Brookes, a fellow-commoner of St. Mary

Hall, to be B. of L.L., and the messenger who brought this asked the Vice Chancellor if he would give them their degrees, saying, that he delivered the paper by order from the King; to which he answered, that the King had not mentioned a word of any such matter to him. If the King commanded, he would do his part; but it was not in his power to grant this. He heard no more while the King staid in town; but since, I hear, Mr. Collins hath been with him to know whether it will be done or not. And I am not certain whether he will grant a convocation or not, that they may try their fortunes. The Vice Chancellor hath much pleased the University by his prudent behaviour in all things, and I hear the King was pleased to say that he was an honest blunt man.

Sir George Pudsey made a speech to the King, when he was met by the city, wherein he much magnified his prerogative, saying to this purpose, that the laws were the grants of princes, and revocable at pleasure; that his Majesty, who knew the concerns of the meanest corporation in his dominions, could not be ignorant that this loyal corporation was influenced by others, otherwise they had addressed as well as others. I have, Sir, as truly as I can, represented these things to you as to the main, but you must not imagine that

* Gilbert Ironside, D.D. Warden of Wadham College.

I can answer as to all the words. Therefore pray do not relate them as certain truths; you know how far expressions vary upon a second or third relation. Mr. Porter gives his service to you, and desires to know when you return; so do I, assuring you that you will be most wel

come to,

Sir, yours most faithfully as formerly.

SIR,

LETTER XVIII.

From the same to the same.

In my last I descended to minuteness, supposing that I might relate all things the more truly; but I find that in many things there is no faith in history. The word unlicensed, in the business concerning the press, was not used (as I thought it ought not to be, when I wrote it to you); but I kept to the words of my author as near as I could. Other things as to the main were as you had them from me; but there were many things omitted, and one remarkable, which is, that the King told the Vice Chancellor, that the Church of England-men were his only enemies; to which he replied that none of them were for the Bill of Exclusion; to which nothing was returned. The discourse that Penn had with some of the Fellows of Magdalen College, and